sports illustrated.

Nice to hear Im not alone in thinking this way. I don't mind if people said "pool hasn't been marketed or package in the right way to appeal to mainstream america. But what I take exception to is when some people (and Im afraid to say it seems to be Americans probably to be fair due to the fact that they have not seen how popular billiards is around the world on TV) say words to the effect:

"Billiards will never be popular or watched on mainstream TV"

The facts just don't back this up!

I don't agree with everything that the IPT has done by they certainly are doing some truly wonderful things, lets hope KT is TheOne :rolleyes: to prove me/us right!
 
Just my opinion

I think that when pool had many fans it was because the old pro's were playing games that were hard. There was a clear cut line on who was the best and people respected that line. Today you can see 10 yr old children winning nine ball games not because of their superior skill but, because the game is simple. The line is not clear anymore. Think about it if you watch Gabe playing nine ball against a 16 yr old kid lets say race to 11 do you always bet on Gabe?? But, if you see Gabe Owen playing straight pool with Willie Mosconi to 5000 points. I know where my money is going to be placed. It was a sport, now it's a game and anyones game at that. I'm real glad to see this IPT deal I think it is a step in the right direction eight ball is a little harder than nine ball but, still to simple to be respected as a sport. The gimics will sell for a while but, then the mob will realize hell I can play that table game as well as that guy and that guy... and that is why pool has no respect and very little coverage compared to other games like curling or arm wrestling I meen do you ever see the world champion in arm wrestling and think I could beat him at least once.
 
JamisonNeu said:
I think that when pool had many fans it was because the old pro's were playing games that were hard. There was a clear cut line on who was the best and people respected that line. Today you can see 10 yr old children winning nine ball games not because of their superior skill but, because the game is simple. The line is not clear anymore. Think about it if you watch Gabe playing nine ball against a 16 yr old kid lets say race to 11 do you always bet on Gabe?? But, if you see Gabe Owen playing straight pool with Willie Mosconi to 5000 points. I know where my money is going to be placed. It was a sport, now it's a game and anyones game at that. I'm real glad to see this IPT deal I think it is a step in the right direction eight ball is a little harder than nine ball but, still to simple to be respected as a sport. The gimics will sell for a while but, then the mob will realize hell I can play that table game as well as that guy and that guy... and that is why pool has no respect and very little coverage compared to other games like curling or arm wrestling I meen do you ever see the world champion in arm wrestling and think I could beat him at least once.
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I think youre being a little unfair in your comparisons. Comparing a race to 5000 in straight pool is hardly the same as a race to 9 at 9 ball, its more like a race to 50 or 75. (well 81 if you want to be precise and don't allow combos :D)

Would you always back gabe in a race to 50 against an A player, of course not as anyone half decent can run 50 and out. Many players (esp snooker) players think that 9 ball is a simple game and to a certain extent its true, but time and time again the same players rise to the top of tournaments. A single rack of 9 ball may not differentiate a players skill quite as much as a single game of snooker but over reasonable races the better player more often than not still wins.

What makes 9 ball so hard is that it is so simple

But again you are not looking at the facts, the fact is 9 ball is popular on TV all around the world, but not in the USA. This disproves what you are saying as the game is still the same! So therefore the fact that the game may not always favour the most skilled player has been proving to have little effect on whether it makes good TV or not.

I don't completely disagree with you but it may be argued that 9 ball is a much harder game than 8 ball.
 
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